Jane Braun's Oatmeal Blessing Cookies

These oatmeal-based cookies are truly divine! Jane Braun has used them for years to bless people at Twin Lakes Church and beyond. When I give them to people, I usually attach a little note that says, "When you're down and feeling ookey, just sit down and eat a cookie". Go ahead and use my poem if you like...I don't mind. 

Warning: DO double the recipe! They will vanish quicker than a goldfish that's jumped out of the bowl in front of a cat! They should be chewy, so experiment with your oven a bit to see how many minutes they should cook--mine were perfect at 14 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 C sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1 C Crisco shortening (I use 1/3 C butter and 2/3 C shortening for more flavor)
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 t real vanilla
1 1/2 C flour and 3 C oats

Optional Additions:

1 C almonds (chopped) with 1 C coconut OR
1 C chocolate chips and/or 1 C walnuts (chopped) OR
1 C raisins OR 1 C toffee chips OR any combination of the above!

Directions:

Beat in a mixer: 1 C sugar, 1 C brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 C Crisco Shortening ( I use 1/3 C butter and 2/3 C Crisco). When well blended add, beating at high speed... 1 t salt and 1 t baking soda. Slow mixer and add: 1 t vanilla. Then slowly add: 1 1/2 C flour and 3 C oats. Choose any of these options: 1 C almonds (chopped), 1 C coconut OR 1 C chocolate chips and 1 C walnuts OR 1 C raisins, OR 1 C. toffee chips. Combine and distribute by adding to the cookie dough and stir well.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-14 min. until light brown.